Cleveland has been shaken by a brazen act of violence that occurred during a Lyft ride earlier this month. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley disclosed that Derrek Dove, a 20-year-old, has been formally charged with the murder of Antoine Latham, a ride-share driver attempting to make ends meet. The grand jury indictment was announced following the linking of Dove to the crime through Lyft records, phone data, and video evidence. "This was a cold and deliberate act of murder. Antoine Latham was killed while simply trying to earn a living. We will do everything in our power to seek justice for him and his family and to hold Derrek Dove accountable," Prosecutor O'Malley said, as reported by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
The tragic incident unfolded on the night of last Sunday, February 8, when Latham picked up Dove and at least two other unidentifiable suspects for a journey slated to end near East 102nd and Rosehill Avenue. It turned tragic when the suspects allegedly shot Latham in the head with an intent to rob him, leading to his vehicle colliding with a guardrail. Dove and his cohorts subsequently fled the scene, and Latham succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to the hospital. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) is still investigating the crime and urged anyone with information to come forward by contacting CDP Homicide at 216.623.5464.
Amidst the ongoing investigation, Dove is facing severe legal consequences for his alleged participation in the crime. On Tuesday, February 17, he was indicted on multiple counts, including Aggravated Murder, two counts each of Murder and Aggravated Robbery, and two counts of Felonious Assault. Dove's arraignment will take place at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center, although a specific date for this has not been set yet. While this case unfolds, authorities have stated that there appears to be no connection between this incident and the separate shooting of Lyft driver Vasyl Shvets, which happened last Tuesday, February 10.
